Hydraulically-controlled winch assembly



April 27, 1954 G. w. MORK 2,676,785 HYDRAULICALLY-CONTROLLED wmcu ASSEMBLY Filed March 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Flc l GEQR EW-MQRK, IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1954 G. w. MORK HYDRAULICALLY-CONTROLLED WINCH ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1951 GEOR xE.. MoR t,

INVENTOR- yfi A TTORNEH pril 27, 1 4 G. w. MORK 2,676,785

HYDRAUL ICALLY-CONTROLLED WINCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORG W. MORK) INVENTOR.

I .5. Fla y/ Z%w/Z ATTORNE').

April 27, 1954 G. w. MORK 2,676,785 HYDRAULICALLY-CONTROLLED WINCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. MORK,

INVENTOR.

7 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1-954 Geo! =-. Bueyrus ll n ,or -SuuthimlwankeesWis.as i n .1 flq nann South Milwaukee ramtianew awere nplicati nllliamhlt ;,Seri lNw2l 'l 85 '3: file-time.

v1 This invention -relates te-new useful improvements in hydraulically-controlled winches,

more particularlyto hydraulic winchesintended to: be attached to tractors and to be driven by the power take-ofi-shaft of the tractor.

A principal-object of the invention istoprovide an improved hydraulically-controlled winch which isofsimple compact design; that canine tta h-ed i -an Q QQhQ f m t acto as admit a withoutassemblg or disassembly of-any ofthe "hydraulic components such as the pump, the tank,;the-contml cylinders, controls and-pip- 18".

A furtherobjectot'the invention is-to provide an improved -hydraulically-controlled winch in whichthe -twin-tarsals:v and conduits leading thereto are rigidly nountedon ar lgid part. ofthewinch that 'also servesas a storage tank-for hydraulic fluidand-as a ri-gldsupportfor the winch-fairlead.

A further eliisotei: an improved hydraulic which the fluid conduits-Jen y 5 1 5 controls; arepreheated;f omzsiamaeef being enclosed in a rigid casing that as. a1. rigidsupeerthas; control valves and levers within easy. he. tra to operato Atturtlxe o iett of the invention tonm de. an imp vedfhrdrauliea. v which the control valves and piping 'le ding the e an b a sembled nd d ass m ledr rqm the n hr simp y c nnec i g: o d eonne tmg.

a supportingbraclget.

ddit -t0. th bifi tsab ve ta edo e worked out anumber of'novel and useful details, wh ch. wil e r ad ly en asth d criptio progresses. v

i nt on onsistsinth .nQvelpa t nd in the ,combination and arrangement thereof, which are defined inthe appended claims, and of which three embodiments are exemplified in the -accompanying; drawings, which are herein after part cularlyd se i edfan exp ain d:

p c t description:th mine-r f ren number 1 is app mla m mhe 'F u zris: asldee evetic o th fi s embo ment of-my winch.

Figurez is a plan view of--the winch, taken along the line :82; of Flg-ure 1.

Figure-8" lea-roanelevation-ct the winch, taken along the line 8-3-3 'of- Figure -l,

4 is a fin lisat on. a nestlw to the--wme member for t 2 bandand control mechanism therefor (internal pl-anotarygearing not shown).

Eigure'f; is a vertical section, taken along the line-5-5 of Figure 2, and illustrating the brake band andcontrolmechanism therefor (internal planetary gearingnot shown).

Figuredis a side elevation, similar to Figure 1, bnt howingaseeondembodiment of-my winch.

Figure -71isa-side elevation, similar to Figure 1, butpartly in section and showing} a portion of a third embodiment of my winch.

-urning now primarily to-Figures 1-3, we see that-thewineh consists primarily of two drums H; 12, each actuated by aconventionalplanetary system (not shown) accordance with U. S.

Patent No. -2,3'59-,'778,for a winch, issued tome October 10, 1944, which patent hereby referredto andmade apart ozfithis specification. Drum -H is controlled by clutch [-3 and brake drum M. I 2 is similarly controlled by clutch I5- and brake l6.

Rope It extends, from drum H, over Iairlead sheave i8, under swi-velled {air-lead sheave l9,

and thence -to the-work (notshown). Rope si-rnilarlyextends,tromdrum t2, over iairlead sheave: ZI-,-under swivelled fair-lead sheave 22', and thence-to the work; (not shown).

Eairlead-sheaves- [-8 and 21 are mounted on two pedestals 23 and which i-n-turn are carried by upper declgplate 25 whiehalso serves as the top cover plate ofaa'tank I6 (hereinafter deqr bedi- The maingear case 21; has a circular flange 21a for rigid attachment to-a-n adaptor -29 which in turniissecured to-the supporting structures-nob,

for example, as the rear transmission case 28 ofqthe-tractor. The use of an adaptor enables one-standard type of winch to be built and then to; he; fittedto any tractor;

clutch brake is actuated as will now'be describedas to the right-hand clutch an -tre s gu es- 4 nd;

lhe dead endofclutch band I3 is pivoted on a ;l ug: 3t secured as by welding to the lower side of lower, deck-platen. Brake band H is simiarlY pivc edicn lug 32.

,lfhe liveend o c h a 1.3 s i o on the lower end of-a rod '33 which passes upwardly through a hole in the lower deck plate 39-. ComipresSion spring"3 4- ,-bearing against the bottom ot the lower declrplateand the head of rod33, tends-toiorcetheclutch to unset. The upper endot rodi'3' ispivoted on-the lower arm ofiamelloranleflwhichis pivoted at its elbow line or l lgurez and illustrating the clutch teach horizontal shaft '31 rigidly supported on the amass 3 lower deck plate. The upper arm 38 of the bellcrank is pivotally connected to the end of rod 39 of single-acting cylinder-piston assembly 40, which is pivoted at its other end to upstanding support 4| on the lower deck plate 30. Pressure fluid, supplied to the cylinder-piston assembly through conduit 42, tends to force the clutch to set.

Similarly the live end of brake band i4 is pivoted on the lower end of a rod 43, which passes upwardly through a second hole in the lower deck plate 33 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to an intermediate point 44 on the lower arm 45 of a second bellcrank 46 which is likewise pivoted at its elbow on fixed horizontal shaft 31. The end of the lower bellcrank arm 45 is pivotally connected at 41 to the end of rod 49 of singleaoting cylinder-piston assembly 50 which is pivoted at its other end to upstanding support on the lower deck plate 30. Pressure fluid, supplied to this cylinder-piston assembly through conduit 52, tends to force the brake to unset. The upper arm 48 of bellcrank 46 is pivotally connected to another rod 53 which passes through a hole in fixed upstanding plate 54. Compression spring 5%, bearing against plate 54 at one end and washer 56 at the other end of rod 53, tends to force the brake to set. Upstanding operating lever arm 51 rigidly connected to bellcrank 4B is used to unset the brake manually when pressure fluid is not available to actuate the cylinder-piston assembly 53, as, for example, when the tractor engine is shut oil and it is desired to release a load that is held by the winch with the brake set.

Turning to Figures 1 and 3, it is seen that pressure fluid for the hydraulic system is supplied by a conventional pump 58 that is mounted on the gear case 21 of the winch, preferably, although not necessarily, at the rear thereof, and is driven, through shaft 59 and bevel pinion 60, by the main bevel gear 6! which is driven by I the tractor power-take-off drive shaft (not shown) as is fully described in my above-mentioned Patent No. 2,359,778. Conduits 62 and 63 are respectively the pressure and return conduits from the pump. Pressure conduit62 runs from the pump to the control valves as hereinafter described. Return conduit 63 runs from the pump to the upstanding fluid reservoir or tank 26.

Tank 26 is mounted on the top of the gear case and forms a square pedestal that forms an integral part ofthe fairlead pedestals 23 and 24 that support fairlead sheaves l8 and 2|.

The winch assembly also includes an upstanding hollow bracket 65 which supports adjacent its upper end the control valves 66 and 61 for directing fluid under pressure to the brake and clutch cylinders for the two cable drums, and extends upwardly and forwardly to a point adjacent the drivers seat on the tractor, so thatthe operating handles 68 and 69 of the control valves are accessible to the driver. This hollow bracket 65 is supported by the gear case, being preferably mounted detachably on the top or other wall of the tank 26. The bracket 65 serves to fully enclose and protect the control valves 66 and 61 and the conduits leading to them which will now bedescribed.

directs pressure fluid to one or the other of the brake and clutch cylinders on the right-hand side of the winch, and the other ,valveperforms 4 the same function for the cylinders on the lefthand side of the winch.

Each valve operates as follows. When the valve operating handle is in hold position (H in Figure 2), the valve blocks passage of fluid to or from both the brake and clutch cylinders, so that in this valve position the brake is set and the clutch is unset. When the valve is in brake-releasing position (B in Figure 2), the valve admits pressure fluid to the brake cylinder, passage of pressure fluid to the clutch cylinder remaining blocked, so that in'this valve position the brake is unset and the clutch is also unset. When the valve is in clutching position (C in Figure 2), the valve admits pressure fluid to the clutch cylinder, passage of pressure fluid to the brake cylinder being blocked, so that in this valve position the arranged to register with a corresponding set of six ports in the upper face of the upper deck plate 25 which forms the top of the tank. This makes it possible to detach the bracket and control valves from the winch assembly by merely -unbolting the bracket 65 without disconnecting any conduits. Internal bored conduits in the upper deck plate 25 run between the ports in the upper face of the upper deck plate and external conduits that run to the cylinders, the pump, and thebottom of the tank. The arrangement of conduits and ports in the bracket 65 and upper deck plate 25 is shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the function of each conduit is indicated as follows:

Psupplies pressure fluid from pump.

Ila-returns fluid to tank.

R P-returns fluid to pump.

Bsupp1ies and returns pressure fluid to and from brake.

C'-supplies and returns pressure fluid to and from-clutch.

The following important advantages accrue from. the above-described method of mounting the controls and other elements of my winch assembly: '1

' (1) The entire winch assembly, including all of its hydraulic equipment and controls, can be attached to and detached from the tractor as a unit by merely unbolting the stem of the gear case 2"! from the tractor.

(2) The tank structure serves the additional triple function of fairlead pedestal, base for control valve bracket, and panel for fluid conduits,

thus providing a more sturdy, simple and com- (4) The hydraulic controls can bereadily detached from the winch unit by simply unbolting bracket 65 from the top of the tank, without disconnecting any piping. I

Turning now to Figure 6, thisrepresents a sec- 7 0nd embodiment of my invention in which the control valves 66 and 67 are mounteddirectly on the top of tank 26, instead of at the end of a bracket, and arepperated by lon ope at ham- .1

sprayer case may be. This embodiment;like-the"first,-

satisfies the basic requirement of a winch unit which is connectedto thetractor only through the adaptor 29 and" can, therefore,-'be assembledto and disassembled from the tractorwith minimum eifort and without thenecessity of'special attachments on the tractor for mounting valves, pipinggandother winch parts.

Turning now to 1 Figure '7, this represents a third embodiment of my invention in which the hollow valve mounting bracket 65ais mounted. on

the side of the tank insteadrof the top of the tank, this being a more convenient arrangement with certain types of tractor. The bracket-65a fully encloses conduits running between valves 66 and B'Iat the end of the bracket and portsiin thebase of the bracket, thesame manner: as in my first embodiment. These ports register with a set of corresponding ports in the side of an adapter 72, which is mounted on the side of the tank, and to which the bracket is detachably connected. Adapter 12 contains internal bored conduits that connect with the conduits in upper deck plate 25 and lead to the pump, tank, and hydraulic cylinders, as in the first embodiment.

Although I describe my winch as having two drums and two sets of cylinders and valves for independent control of such'drums, my invention is equally applicable to a single drum winch and its control valve, or to a winch with more than two drums and controls, and claims which mention one drum, and one valve therefor are intended to apply to any drum and associated control of a multiple drum winch as well as to a single drum winch.

Having now described and illustrated one form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

I claim:

1. A tank assembly for an hydraulic winch which includes a gear casing having a stem adapted to be detachably mounted on a tractor, a drive shaft in the stem, a cable drum rotatably supported by the gear casing and driven by the drive shaft, a brake and a clutch for the cable drum, an hydraulic cylinder for engaging the clutch, an hydraulic cylinder for releasing the brake, a control valve for directing fluid under pressure selectively to one or the other of said cylinders, a pump mounted on the gear casing and driven by the drive shaft, a fairlead for the cable drum, and a pedestal for the fairlead mounted on the gear casing; such tank assembly consisting of: an upstanding tank mounted on the gear case and incorporated as an integral part of the fairlead pedestal, a deck plate forming the top of said tank, an upstanding hollow bracket detachably mounted upon said deck plate, said bracket supporting said control valve adjacent its upper end and extending to a point adjacentrthe drivefl's seat anthe "tractor, fluicl con duits enclosed within-said bracket and leading from'said control valve to outlets on-the undersideof the-base of said bracket, bored fluid conduits saiddeck plate having ports for connection tofiuid conduits leading to-the pump and cylindersand having ports in the-upper face of said deck plate arranged- .to register with the first-mentionedports: of the bracket when the bracket: is attachedtosaid'deck plate.

"-2. A'tank assembly for anhydraulic wind: which includes acable drum adapted to be detachablyrmounted on-a tractor, a brake'and" a clutch 1 for the cable drum;- a 'fairlead for the cable drum, a pedestal for'the 'fa'irlead, an hy-- draulic cylinder for releasing the brake, anhy-' draulic cylinder for engagingtheclutch, a control valve ior directing fluid under pressureselectively to-said cylinders; suchtank assembly.

I consisting of: an upstanding fluid tank incorporated as an integral; part of the fairlead pedestal, and an upstanding hollow bracketdetachably mounted upon saidtank, =said bracket supporting said control valve adjacent its upper endand extending to a point adjacent the driver's seat on-the tractor.

3. A tankassemblyaccording to claim 2 further characterized by having a deck plate that-forms the' top of the tank, by 'havi-ng fluid conduits bored in said deck plate-and ports for said conduits in the top 'face-of--said-deck: plate, an d. by having fluid conduits enclosed within the hollow bracket, said last-mentioned conduits running from the control valve to ports at the base of the bracket, the ports at the top of the plate and the ports at the base of the bracket being arranged to register with each other when the bracket is attached to the deck plate.

4. A tank assembly according to claim 2 further characterized by having a set of fluid ports in the base of said bracket, and a set of fluid conduits fully enclosed within said bracket and running from said control valve to said fluid ports.

5. A tank assembly according to claim 4, further characterized by having a set of ports in the outside face of a wall of the tank under the base of the bracket; and a set of fluid conduits running from said ports to said cylinders, a source of fluid pressure, and the interior of the tank; said last-mentioned ports being arranged to register with the ports in the base of the bracket when the bracket is attached to the tank.

6. A tank assembly for an hydraulic winch which includes agear casing adapted to be detachably mounted on a tractor, a cable drum rotatably supported by the gear casing, a brake and a clutch for the cable drum, an hydraulic cylinder for engaging the clutch, an hydraulic cylinder for releasing the brake, and a control valve for directing fluid under pressure to said cylinders; such tank assembly consisting of an upstanding fluid tank mounted on the gear case; an upstanding hollow bracket detachably mounted upon said tank, said bracket supporting said control valve adjacent its upper end and extending to a point adjacent the driver's seat on the tractor; and a set of fluid conduits enclosed within said hollow bracket and leading from said control valve to ports at the lower end of the bracket, one of said conduits being a direct return conduit from said valve to said tank.

7. In an hydraulic winch, the combination of a gear casing having a stem adapted to be detachably mounted on a tractor; a drive shaft in the stem; a cable drum rotatably supported by the gear casing and operatively connected to the drive shaft to be driven thereby; a fairlead for the cable drum; a pedestal for the fairlead mounted on the gear case; a brake and a clutch for the cable drum; an hydraulic cylinder for engaging the clutch; an hydraulic cylinder for releasing the brake; a control valve for directing fluid under pressure to said cylinders; a pump mounted on the gear casing and operatively connected to the drive shaft to be driven thereby; a fluid tank supported by the gear casing and incorporated as an integral part of the fairlead pedestal; and an upstanding hollow bracket supported by the gear casing, said bracket supporting said control valve adjacent its upper end and extending to a point adjacent the drivers seat on the tractor.

8. A unitary hydraulic winch assembly, comprising: a gear casing having a stem adapted to be detachably mounted on a tractor; a drive shaft in the stem; a cable drum rotatably supported by the gear casing and driven by the drive shaft; a brake and a clutch for the cable drum; an hydraulic cylinder for engaging the clutch; an hydraulic cylinder for releasing the brake; a pump mounted on the gear casing and driven by the drive shaft; a tank assembly mounted on the gear case and including: a tank proper, a control valve for directing fluid under pressure selectively to one or the other of said cylinders, and an upstanding hollow bracket detachably mounted upon said tank, said bracket extending to a point adjacent the drivers seat on the tractor and supporting said control valve at the outer end of said bracket, and fluid conduits enclosed within said bracket and leading from said control 'valve to ports on the underside of the base of said bracket, the entire aforesaid winch assembly being detachable as a unit from the tractor by detachment of said stem from the tractor.

9. A unitary hydraulic winch assembly according toclaim 8, further characterized by having a deck plate that forms the top of the tank, by having fluid conduits bored in said deck plate and ports for said conduits in the top face of said deck plate, the ports at the top of the deck plate and the ports at the base of the bracket being arranged to register with each other when the bracket is attached to the deck plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

